Great chat with my very understanding and patient publisher. We both agree there is a decent book somewhere in the bloated manuscript. On reflection, the crisis of confidence I have experienced since book 1 has led to lot of over-writing. Various failed attempts to execute ideas.

Add that to momentous events in politics and my personal life and ultimately what you get a book which is very unsure of itself. It's a relief to talk it through with someone and also to be reassured that there is support in terms of cutting it down to size.

The thing I really struggle with is managing the vast amounts of documents. Of keeping track of what I've moved and where and why. It leads to a lot of repetition and the muddying of arguments.

But ultimately, I want to get it to a place where it reflects my own temperament. There is a time and a place for fury and a time and a place for reflection and thinking things through. I'm looking forward to bringing these contradictory aspects to the fore and reconciling them.

We're a long way off, but I feel encouraged that everyone understands the heart of the book, what I am trying to say and that it's moderately ambitious compared to book one. Looking forward to diving back into it soon - but not today.